School starts next week! The Hedge will be back each Thursday to share some of the happenings on our Campus… so come take a peek.
Happy New Year to you all!
I hope the final week of the summer holidays is treating your family kindly—with at least one sleep‑in, one relaxed breakfast, and perhaps even a moment where someone says, “What day is it again?” (a sure sign of a good holiday).
We are very much looking forward to welcoming our students and families back on Wednesday 28 January, and to hearing the wonderful, slightly chaotic symphony of a full and lively Campus, as we begin the 2026 school year.
To our new families joining us—a warm welcome to Mercedes. You’re in good hands. Our current families are experts at making others feel at home, and I look forward to meeting you at our upcoming events and activities. You’ll quickly discover what makes our College such a special place.
This year promises to be an exciting one. Next Term we’ll open our new Tech Innovation Hub – a space designed for creativity, problem‑solving, and discovering just how many things can be built using determination, advanced manufacturing equipment, or even the good old glue gun.
We’ve refurbished our Reception classrooms, upgraded learning spaces and lockers, launched a new Year 6 Hub on Mercy Lane, and later in the year we will host Intercol XXII—always a standout moment on our College calendar.
And of course, the year will be coloured by all the things that make Mercedes the vibrant community it is: athletics and swimming carnivals, House activities, music and drama performances, co‑curricular sports, camps, excursions, service opportunities and community events. These experiences aren’t just “extras”—they’re the threads that weave together the rich tapestry of College life.
Each year, we focus on one of our six Mercy Keys, and 2026 is the Year of Integrity. It’s a fitting theme as we step into something new. Author, Brené Brown says “Integrity is choosing courage over comfort.” It’s about honesty, courage, resilience and showing up — even when the task is unfamiliar or the outcome uncertain.
And let’s be honest: “new” rarely means “easy.” New classes, new routines, new expectations, new friendships—even new lunchboxes—call for patience and perseverance from our young people. But this is where growth and learning happens.
Excellence grows from persistence, not perfection; from practice, not polish. A safe stumble today becomes the strong stride of tomorrow, and young people who are allowed to “have a go” tend to surprise themselves with what they can achieve.
Every fresh challenge is an invitation for students to stretch their resilience, discover their abilities and build confidence, demonstrate integrity by doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.
So as we begin 2026 — with its opportunities, learning moments, and inevitable “Wait… where did I put my school hat again?” mornings — let’s encourage our students to embrace the year with resilience, integrity, and a spirit of curiosity.
If things don’t go perfectly every time, that’s not a problem. That’s learning, doing what learning does best.
For now, enjoy these final days of the holidays.
Below are a few reminders before Term One begins.
Until next week
Andrew
SEQTA Engage is a useful app that helps you find information and links that are relevant to your children’s day-day activities at Mercedes. Download the app onto your smart device from the App Store or Google Play, or access it on your desktop computer at engage.mercedes.catholic.edu.au
Through SEQTA Engage, you can find direct links to the College calendar, uniform requirements, cafe menus, lunch pre-orders, CESA Community Portal, Qkr! payments, Seesaw, Managebac, Co-curricular nominations, Stack Team app, OSHC bookings, SchoolTV resources, and more. It is also the place to view your child’s timetable, email their teachers, and report absences. If you have any trouble accessing SEQTA Engage, please contact our ICT Help Desk. They’d be happy to help…
All families are reminded to please log in to the CESA Community Portal to ensure all contact details, emergency contacts, and student medical information is up to date ahead of the new school year.
It is important that these details are accurate as they are the ‘source of truth’ for your family and our students.
Please take a moment to check your details before the 2026 year starts.
Please be mindful of increased traffic around the College on Wednesday 28 January as we do have new families joining the College. Leave yourself plenty of time to park and arrive on Campus without rushing. All students are asked to wear their Formal Summer Uniform on Day 1, regardless of whether they have PE listed in their timetable. This excludes Reception to Year 2 students, who wear our PE uniform every day as their Summer uniform.
Parents and grandparents are invited to stay after students have gone to their class, and enjoy a coffee from our College Coffee Cart barista. This is a great way to re-connect with friends, and to welcome new families to our community. Members from our Enrolment and Engagement Team will be there, to help with any questions.
The College has two ‘kiss’n’drop’ zones – Gate 1 – Delamere Avenue is best suited to Junior School families (Reception to Year 5) and Year 6 students. Gate 3 – Founders Lane off Carrick Hill Drive is best suited to our Middle and Senior School students.
Please note: the kiss n drop spaces are not to be used as car parks, but to pull in and drop off or collect your child. To accommodate our College buses in the afternoon, the Delamere Avenue kiss’n’drop zone is not available from 3.00pm.
Please arrive before this time to secure a limited car park on site, or use the surrounding street parking and enter via our pedestrian gates.
Mercedes College currently has three dedicated bus services operated by Willunga Charter that travel to the North, the South, and through the Adelaide Hills. Click here to review maps and timetables.
The afternoon service on our Southern service is currently at capacity, with a waitlist in place. Please email mercedes@mercedes.catholic.edu.au to join this waitlist and we’ll let you know when spaces become available.
Our Hills and Northern services have places available. Contact us for further information and to register your place.
Costs:
Annual pass | $1,360
Term pass | $340
Casual pass | $6 per trip (to school/from school), dependent on availability
Invariably a long break of holiday adventures and sunshine can result in growth spurts, so please check your Summer uniforms to make sure you have everything you need to start the year… and they all still fit!
The Uniform Shop will be open and you will need to book an appointment:
Thursday 22 and Friday 23 January from 9.00am – 3.00pm
Tuesday 27 January from 8.00am – 2.00pm
Please click here to book an appointment.
Alternatively, our Second Hand Uniform Shop, located upstairs in Strathspey House, will be open during the Term and our parent volunteers will be happy to help you:
Thursdays, 3.00pm – 4.00pm.
Review our uniform requirements here.
If you’d like to volunteer an hour a week in our Second Hand Uniform Shop, we’d appreciate it. Please contact us for more information.
We have a new College Cafe Chef this year, and she is finalising ourTerm 1 menu. We will share this with you soon – and look forward to the healthy, fresh meals, prepared on site, that will be available this year.
Lunch orders can be placed each school day before 9.00am through My Student Account.
A reminder that our Junior School students collect lunch orders before the bell and eat with their classmates.
Middle and Senior School students collect lunch orders directly from the Cafe.
The Department for Infrastructure and Transport has introduced a new speed limit on Fullarton Road, reducing vehicle speeds past Mercedes College on school days. As vehicles approach the traffic lights, the speed limit will reduce to 40km/h on school days only during drop off and pick up times:
8.00am to 9.30am
2.00pm to 4.00pm
Click here for a map showing the approximate start and end points of this school zone. Please make sure all family members who drive along Fullarton Road are aware of this new school zone, which will be enforced from Day 1 of the school year, Wednesday 28 January.
An integral part of supporting our close and connected community is our network of Year Level Representatives (YLRs) who keep their year level famlies informed and engaged. In this role, parents help families navigate College life, share reminders about school activities, important dates, and arrange social opportunities for families to get together.
The role of YLR is not onerous but is incredibly valuable. It is a great way to meet other parents, and form friendships that stay with you for years to come.
Our YLR register is open – we’d really appreciate hearing from you if you’d like to sign up!
Email your name, mobile and the year level/s you’d like to represent through to Jennie Bell in our Communications Team, so she can add your name to the list! *Pictured: some of our 2025 YLRs enjoying the Mother’s Day Lunch
Planning is well underway for our Year 11 and Year 12 Formal, and we are looking forward to another great event for our Senior students.
2026 Formal
Saturday 21 February
6.30pm – 10.30pm
Adelaide Convention Centre
This event is for students from Year 11 and Year 12 at Mercedes College, and includes a sit-down dinner, dancing, videobooth, and a few surprises.
Tickets are $125 per student (+ booking fee) Click here to book your place by Friday 13 February to allow time for final seating arrangements.
Table allocations will be coordinated with our Year Level Leaders for Year 11 and Year 12 in consultation with student preferences. We look forward to sharing more details with you in the coming weeks.
One of our favourite events is our Garden Party, where families from across the College enjoy food, wine, music and each other’s company. Set in the Rose Garden, this event is a chance for current families to re-connect after the long break, and also for our new families to meet other members of our community.
Garden Party
Friday 20 February
4.00pm – 7.00pm
Rose Garden
The event is open to all families and students, as well as extended family and staff – the more the merrier!
Mark this date in your calendar and keep an eye on coming editions of the Hedge for booking details.
We’d love to see you there!
